Article of footwear with soil-shedding performance
First Claim
1. An outsole for an article of footwear, the outsole comprising:
- an outsole backing member, wherein one or more traction elements are operably secured to the outsole backing member; and
a film secured to the outsole backing member and defining an external surface of the outsole,wherein the film comprises a hydrogel, wherein the outsole backing member compositionally comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane, and wherein the hydrogel comprises a crosslinked polymeric network having copolymer chains that are physically crosslinked.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosure relates to articles of footwear and components thereof, including outsoles, which can be used in conditions normally conducive to the accumulation of soil on the outsoles. In particular, the disclosure relates to articles of footwear and components thereof including an outsole with an external hydrogel film having a water uptake capacity at 24 hours greater than 40% by weight. The outsoles can prevent or reduce the accumulation of soil on the footwear during wear on unpaved surfaces such as sporting fields. When the outsoles are wetted with water, the outsoles can become more compliant and/or can rapidly uptake and/or expel water, which can prevent soil from adhering to the outsole and/or can assist in shedding soil present on the outsole.
153 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An outsole for an article of footwear, the outsole comprising:
-
an outsole backing member, wherein one or more traction elements are operably secured to the outsole backing member; and a film secured to the outsole backing member and defining an external surface of the outsole, wherein the film comprises a hydrogel, wherein the outsole backing member compositionally comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane, and wherein the hydrogel comprises a crosslinked polymeric network having copolymer chains that are physically crosslinked. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An article of footwear, comprising:
-
an outsole having an outsole backing member, wherein one or more traction elements are operably secured to the outsole backing member; and
a film secured to the outsole backing member and defining an external surface of the outsole, wherein the film comprises a hydrogel, wherein the outsole backing member compositionally comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane, and wherein the hydrogel comprises a crosslinked polymeric network having copolymer chains that are physically crosslinked; andan upper, wherein the upper is operably secured to the outsole. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification